Manila Sound in show

MANILA, Philippines - Male Rigor of VST & Company, Sonny Parsons of Hagibis, and Joey Abando of The Boyfriends were among the top proponents of what is now known as the Manila Sound. Now, they will bring back the golden era of Original Pilipino Music (OPM) in a rare three-in-one concert appearance billed The Manila Sound Project.

Set for Feb. 9, 8:30 p.m. at the Music Museum, the show will be one big musical party celebrating the best of OPM during the ’70s and ’80s.

Rigor, original vocalist of VST and Company that also included the brothers Vic and Maru Sotto, helped popularize hits like Swing, Awitin Mo, Isasayaw Ko, Rock Baby Rock and Ipagpatawad Mo.

Parsons was part of the all-male group Hagibis, said to be the Pinoy counterpart of the Village People. Composed of five members, Hagibis’ famous songs included Legs, Katawan, Lalake Babae and Nanggigigil.

Abando was part of The Boyfriends, another all-male group whose pop and disco harmonies were reminiscent of the Bee Gees. This sound found its representation in songs like Dahil Mahal Kita, Nais Kong Malaman Mo, Sumayaw Sumunod and the classic Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal.

On concert night, it will be full of reminscing from music to fashion to the dance craze of that era. The Manila Sound Project artists promise a show that will be worth the wait since it is a rare ocassion that they will join each other on one stage. And because their groups have now disbanded, it makes this unprecedented reunion just that more special.

Tickets to The Manila Sound Project are available at P1,000 and P1,500 from the Music Museum (721-0635), Ticketworld (891-9999) and SM Tickets (470-2222).